Business will be taken as on the Order Paper—No. 6. If the Second Reading of the Social Welfare Bill is not disposed of, it will be necessary for the House to sit to-morrow unless an agreement is arrived at between the Whips to sit later than 10.30 this evening.
Order of Business.
That was not the agreement.
If the discussion on the Second Stage of the Social Welfare Bill should finish in two or three hours before 10.30, is it intended to continue the debate on the Budget proposals?
No. Number 6 only.
A Deputy
That would embarrass you.
Even window-breaking will not embarrass us, or blue shirts or red shirts.
May I point out that a pledge was broken? A most specific statement was officially made to me by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach that the House would not sit to-morrow. A most specific statement to that effect was made on several occasions last week.
I do not think any pledge has been broken. I am merely indicating that if the Second Reading of the Social Welfare Bill is not disposed of to-day it will be necessary for the House to sit to-morrow unless an agreement is arrived at between the Whips for the House to sit later this evening. I hope it will not be necessary to reach such an agreement. I hope that the Second Reading of the Social Welfare Bill will be disposed of in the ordinary way before 10.30 to-night.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach also informed Deputy Sweetman that the Dáil would sit to-day for the specific purpose of concluding the Second Stage of the Social Welfare Bill.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach officially informed the Opposition that the Dáil would not, in any circumstances, sit to-morrow, and that a motion would be introduced for the purpose of sitting late this evening, if necessary. Further, the Opposition informed the Parliamentary Secretary that they were not to be taken as agreeing to that motion. It was stated, more than once, that the House would not sit to-morrow. The Minister now holds cut the threat that if we do not agree to what the Government want they will break their word. That is what it amounts to.
We said we would have to get our business through.
You were not there.
I was present in this House.
On the assumption that the debate will finish this evening, what time would the Minister for Social Welfare regard as reasonable to enable him to reply?
When is it proposed that the Dáil will reassemble after Easter?
The 22nd April.
If there is urgency in dealing with the Social Welfare Bill, is there any reason why the Dáil should not reassemble earlier for that purpose?
The urgency is to dispose of the Second Reading now so that when the Dáil reassembles we shall be able to proceed promptly to the Committee Stage. Deputy Davin asked a question on which, perhaps, we may be able to reach agreement. He asked how long the Minister for Social Welfare would require to enable him to conclude the debate on the Second Reading of this Bill. I take it from that question that Deputy Davin is prepared to permit the Minister for Social Welfare to conclude this evening.
Oh, no.
I said: "On the assumption..."
I was about to make a suggestion which, I trust, will meet the wishes of Deputy Sweetman and also facilitate the procedure of the House. It was that it might be agreed that the Minister for Social Welfare would be called to conclude the debate not later than 9.30 p.m.
We made it clear that we were not willing to consent to any limitation of the debate on the Social Welfare Bill.
And we made it clear that we would get through our business.
A Deputy
By a majority vote.
I want to make it clear that there is no intention on the part of this group to obstruct. We want to give the Minister reasonable facilities —but we have no control over the gentlemen who sit in the centre of the gangway.
You have no control, anyway, apparently.
Keep your tongue in your cheek.
Order.
Would the Minister for Local Government behave himself?
I will contribute as I wish, subject to the ruling of the Chair.